Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-14

Dorothy forgot that was rebel when
came to her suffering, wounded, almost
dead. She knew and loved me when was
a little boy in Virginia. Could she have
even dreamed that /, a prisoner of war
escaping from my guard. would come to
her for refuge? For weeks she nursed me
IN this very room, not even her husband
guessing it. Well, | have learned that nv
longer stay here will bring suspicion upon
him, the grand old man, upon her" His
voice shook a little. "They are on nv
track at last Do not think bitterly of me,
Miss Marjorie / am not ashamed of our
cause, though it is a nearly hopeless one.
| am going away now-going at once. 1t
is death if | am taken y
| read in his face all that his words
implied. | could not bear it, | laid my
hand upon his shoulder, crying with quiy-
ering voice: Felix, Felix !"
] shall never forget the light that beamed
in his face as he drew me to him and looked
into my eyes,
"Ahn' he murmured. Marjorie, too,
has forgotten that am rebel. My darling, [
never meant that you should know. |
meant to go away quietly under the burden
of your scorn and make no sign that
should betray my love for you, When you
talked of your brother your Gerald fight
ing down there at Vicksburg, do you think
| did not feel Just shame that /, q soldier.
as brave, as loyal to his trust as he could
be to his, must be masquerading here as a
wandering schoolmaSter? And yet have
no regret that | am in your eyes a rebel.
For such | must be, if true to my own idea
of duty. But if / were to die now, pur-
sued, hunted as | am, plans | have devised
for the benefit of the cause fight for must
perish with me. l could not have foreseen
what disaster my love must bring upon
you Dorothy, Dorothy Lynton-" he
turned upon my cousin with vehement
denial-"you know that | speak truly /
would have shielded her from misery with
my life"
The strong current of his impetuous
speech ebbed for awhile. My beloved /"
he went on, Il will not ask you to forget
that we have ever met, nor even to hone
this unhappy war ended, we shall meet
again. Something that l cannot reason
away impresses upon me the belief that
our parting is final one, Be courageous,
my own"
burst into frenzy of weeping as he led
me to Dorothy. Dorothy" he whispered,
very softly, as he kissed her upturned face,
may God forever hold you and yours in
his keeping ~
! saw the faint smile about his tremulcus
lips as he laid his hand upon my head with
touch that carried benediction in it, and
stllied my passionate grief
L dd not cry out then, though | knew
that the kiss be pressed upon my lips was
the seal Of an endless betrothal, of hope
less farewell. l made no sound when
heard him going down the stairs, and
moment later the claiter of his horses
hooiS upon the road. IL was only when
my cousin Dorothy took me in her arms.
with sad, remorseful murmuring, that
words came back to me.
Forever mine o Felix, my beloved
| cried, and with the utterance solemn
peace overlooked my soul. DO not
grieye, dear Dorothy" said, ''be is mine
Mine beyond the power of time or change
would not have it otherwise if could. |
am content-content to wait the dawn of
Gods tomorrow"
Surely R0deriek Lynton could never inn
agine, reading day after day of battles,
which, won or lost, gradually drew the
great rebellion to its close, how the heart of
one of his auditors was torn with the pangs
of contending emotions. We were true
patriots, he and |; and when, in the glory
OF autumnal beauty, we laid my only
brother Gerald to rest, draped in the coors
of that Union for which he gladly died
know that Dorothy's husband took me to
his heart with such love as few fathers
feel.
But it was months afterwards that, put
ting aside his pipe one day, he read
The thrilling account, given in our last issue,
OF the romantic spy, turns out to have been not
too highly colored. Since his reeapture it has
TRANSFERRED that he sought refuge with lady
the wife of a prominent Unionist, whose name
he utterly refused to diyulge. This Confederate
Major, one of the bravest of men, having some
private sources of information, yentured within
our lines so well disguised that the knowledge
thus obtained would have resulted in fearful
disaster to the cause of the Union. By the
merest chance his plans mlscarried and our
latest dispatches show that he has paid the pen
atty due to his acts One cannot but admire the
fight he made for his life. enemy though he was
Indeed, he had very nearly regained the Con-
federate lines when his retreat was unexpect-
eddy cut of. Then, rather than fall into the
hands OF our soldiers, and, perhaps, determined
to save himself from the death meted out to a
spy, he deliberately shot himself. Upon ap-
preaching him. Captain Osborn found that he
must have suffered fortunes from a badly
wounded arm.
Poor fellow :" said Roderick Lynton.
softly, laying down his paper.
Suddenly the bells of Ernscliff rang forth
in wild, exultant peals, and across the
bridge came the sound of trampling feet
. All" cried my cousin, excitedly, there
must be glorious news. What is it.
Catherine?" he asked, throwing the win
dow open.
Richmond has fallen, they say,'' she
replied, soberly.
Thank Godr' said Roderick Lynton.
" May He heal our poor, sini;ten country
What, Marjorie, you who have been so
over other victories, have you
no word for this one, long waited for, long
prayed for?"
My heart is full, my eyes are dim, as |
say earnestly, God bless our countryr'
Then l added, in voice that shook little,
s. God bless our soldiers" 8.
Ny voice faltered still more when l
said moment afterwards, very fervently,
6 God rest our soldiers" The words seemed
to choke me and my utterance failed.
Roderick Lynton's bright face saddened.
q Poor Gerald ~ he muttered. Poor boyr'
But my cousin Dorothy laid her arm
about me tender!y, and l felt the true solace
of her meaning as she said, solemny, with
sweet, uplifted eyes: God rest our
-Ada Laag'Oorthy Collier IL
the Current,